apple

An apple is a type of fruit that grows on trees. Apples are very popular in the United States.

• Apples come in all sorts of colors: red, green, yellow, gold, and pink.
• You can use apples to make many different types of deserts: pies, cakes, muffins, and pastries.
• Apple trees grow in cold climates. Apple trees don’t do well in warm or tropical climates.
• The core of the apple is the part that most people don’t eat. The core consists of the stem, the seeds, and part of the old blossom. (blossom = flower)
• The outer covering of an apple is called the skin.
• Apples are harvested in the late summer and fall in the United States.

The word "apple" is also used as the name of a company that produces computers, tablets, phones, and watches.

• I work on an Apple. It’s an iMac.
• Theresa just got a new iPhone. It’s made by Apple.
• The Apple store at the local mall is always busy.
• Apple has a very loyal customer base because Apple products are very well made.

Of course, the word "apple" is very common in English. You probably knew it already. But are you familiar with these expressions?:

• The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree. (A child is very similar to a parent.)
• She (or he) is the apple of his eye. (A parent is very proud of his son or daughter.)
• It’s like comparing apples to oranges. (You’ll hear this said when someone tries to make a comparison between two extremely different things. This may invalidate the comparison.)
• An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (This is a common proverb in English. Eating apples keeps a person healthy, so there’s no need for a doctor.)

apples

Note: Apples are often used to represent teachers and the teaching profession. Why is that? There are a few reasons. First, I think it’s because students often give their teachers apples as gifts. Giving your teacher an apple is a way to express your appreciation for the work that the teacher does. Second, apples are not very expensive and can be eaten anywhere. Overworked teachers don’t have a lot of time (or money!) for lunch, so they eat apples.

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Published on September 1, 2017